Refrigerating apparatus mounting means



Oct. 31, 1961 R. c. BROWN ET AL 3,

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS MOUNTING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 7, 1960 INVENTORS Richard C. Brown By Robert Smith a7d h Their Attorney Oct. 31, 1961 R. (3. BROWN ETAL REFRIGERATING APPARATUS MOUNTING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 7, 1960 INVENTORS Richard C. Brown By Roberf Smhh wm I m 2!. Their Afro ney Oct. 31, 1961 R. c. BROWN ET AL REFRIGERATING APPARATUS MOUNTING MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 7, 1960 llllllll INVENTORS Richard C. Brown BY Robert Smifh N in Their m e 7' United States Patent 3 006 159 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS MOUNTING MEANS This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to an arrangement for supporting a motor-compressor containing casing of a refrigerating system within a machine compartment in the bottom of a refrigerator cabinet with which the system is associated.

An object of our invention is to provide a device in the machine compartment of a refrigerator cabinet which serves a multiplicity of purposes therein.

Another object of our invention is to provide a combined device which forms a rigid structural tie between opposite walls of a machine compartment in a refrigerator cabinet and a support in the compartment for supporting an operable unit portion of a refrigerating system associated with the cabinet.

Another object of our invention is to provide a rigid metal tubular member in a machine compartment of a refrigerator cabinet and to form this member into a particular shape whereby it, in addition to providing a casing support in the compartment, is secured to the cabinet in such fashion that the tubular characteristic of the member resists twisting thereof to prevent shifting of walls of the cabinet for structural strengthening the same in the vicinity of the machine compartment so as to thereby eliminate the necessity of furnishing a heavy frame or closure Wall at the bottom of the compartment.

A further object of our invention is to secure a novelshaped, rigid, one-piece metal member in a machine compartment of a refrigerator cabinet having an inverted substantially U-shaped sheet metal outer shell forming opposite walls of the compartment in such fashion that the member will increase the structural strength of the cabinet at the ends of legs of the inverted U-shaped cabinet shell, and prevent shifting of the walls in the vicinity of the compartment relative to one another.

In carrying out the foregoing objects it is a still further and more specific object of our invention to bend a length of metal tubing into such shape that it will provide a combined device insertable into a machine compartment of a refrigerator cabinet and secured to opposite walls thereof to prevent shifting of the walls and also provide a support thereon for supporting a motor-compressor containing casing of a refrigerating system within the compartment which tube is flattened and formed at predetermined points along the device, into double-walled channel-like sections that are more desirable and practical to be tightly clamped to the refrigerator cabinet or for mounting the casing on the device.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a refrigerator cabinet of a character t which our invention is particularly applicable;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged broken sectional view through the refrigerator cabinet taken along the lines 22 of FIGURE 1 showing a motor-compressor casing mounted on a combined support and cabinet wall tie means in the refrigerator cabinet machine compartment;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view taken in the direction of the arrow 3 in FIGURE 2 looking into the rear of the refrigerator cabinet machine compartment;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional views taken along the lines 4-4 of FIGURE 2 showing mounting ledges of the combined device for supporting a motorcompressor casing thereon;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of FIGURE 2 showing a portion of the combined device rigidly clamped to the lower portion of walls of the'refrigerator cabinet;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the combined device per se of our invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a front view partially in section of the combined device shown in FIGURE 6 and is taken along the lines 77 thereof.

Referring to the drawings, we show in FIGURE 1 thereof a household refrigerator cabinet 10 having a plurality of insulated walls including an outer metal substantially U-shaped inverted shell 11 and an inner metal can or box-like member 12 spaced therefrom by suitable insulating material, as is conventional in the art, forming a liner of a food storage chamber 14 in the cabinet. The construction of refrigerator cabinet 10 and particularly the formation of shell 11 is substantially like that disclosed and more fully described in the copending application of O. V. Saunders and R. C. Brown, Serial No. 23,813 filed April 2, 1960, and assigned to the assignee of the present application. The outer metal walls of cabinet 10 or of shell 11 depend below the insulated chamber 14 to provide opposite side walls 16 and 17 of a machine compartment 18 beneath the chamber (see FIGURES 2 and 3). A refrigerating system associated with the refrigerator cabinet 10 includes a refrigerant evaporator, preferably of a pressure-welded sheet metal type, mounted in the upper portion of chamber 14 behind a cover or closure 19 separate from and located inwardly of the chamber door 21 closing an open front of the evaporator. The refrigerating system also includes a motor-compressor unit sealed in a casing 23 (see FIGURES 2 and 3), which casing is mounted in compartment 18 and connected to the evaporator of the system by suitable pipes or conduits as is conventional in the art. The closed refrigerating system further includes a refrigerant condenser (not shown) which may be mounted at the back of cabinet 10 to extend therealong in exposed relationship to air ambient the refrigerator, which condenser is connected by suitable pipes or conduits to casing 23 and to the refrigerant evaporator. Refrigerator door 21 is pivotally mounted upon cabinet 10 for horizontal swinging movement relative thereto by upper and lower hinges 24 so as to provide access to chamber 14. The evaporator of the refrigerating system Withdraws heat from the interior of insulated chamber 14 to cool and cause circulation of air therein for preserving food products storedin the chamber as is now well known. Machine compartment 18 is open at its back and closed at its front by a removable panel or closure member 26 (see FIGURES 1 and 2).

It is, according to our invention, desirable to eliminate a heavy or bulky frame about the lower portion of a machine compartment or a bottom Wall therefor so as to simplify the construction and thereby reduce manufacturing costs of the refrigerator cabinet. This presents problems and our invention overcomes these problems while, at the same time, increasing the structural strength of a refrigerator cabinet, particularly in the vicinity of its lower machine compartment. We, therefore, provide a device or means in the form of a combined structural tie and motor-compressor casing support within machine compartment 18 of the refrigerator cabinet 10 herein disclosed. As before stated, the sides or legs 16 and 17 of the inverted U-shaped sheet-metal shell 11 depend below food storage chamber 14 to form opposite side walls of machine compartment 18 and these side walls each have inwardly bent feet 31 thereon provided with an upturned toe portion 32. It is to be noted by referring to FIGURES 2 and 3 that the front edge portion of shell 11 has a multifarious formation corresponding to the disclosure in the hereinbefore referred-to Saunders and Brown application, as generally indicated at 33, at least a part of which is carriedthroughout the extent of feet 31 and'toe 32. For the purpose of the present invention the part of the formation 33 as shown at the front of refrigerator cabinet may also be provided at the back thereof atleast along compartment 18 to formintegral continuations of the feet 31 and toes 32 fromthe front to the rear of the cabinet. The back edge of legs or sides 16 and 17 of shell 11 is inturned and secured in any suitable manner to a cabinet metal back plate or wall 35 which is open at the rear of compartment 18. Front and rear bottom reinforcing cabinet supporting plates 34 and 36 respectively are disposed beneath the feet 31 and welded thereto. The plates 34 and 36 are, for all purposes and intent of the present disclosure, part of feet 31 and side walls 16 and 17 of machine compartment 18. An ear :part 37 of the inner vertical portion of each of the plates 34- and 36, lying adjacent the toe 32 of feet 31,

is bent down into a horizontal position or plane to provide a four-point mounting arrangement within machine compartment 18 for the combined means or device, .to be hereinafter described, of our invention.

Front closure 26 of compartment 18 has two spring bayonet members 41 thereon (see FIGURE 3) which extend through openings 42 provided in corner gussets 43 at the front of cabinet 10 to biasingly hold closure 26 against the cabinet front surface. In order to provide a rigid structural tie between the feet 31 of depending legs or walls 16 and .17 at the front of cabinet 10, we employ a length of metal tube 46 having substantially flattened double-walled channel-like inturned ends 47 .(see FIG- URE 2). The ends 47 of tube 46 rest onear 37 of the front plates 34 and these tube ends are bolted, as

shown, to plates 34 or otherwise suitably fastened or rigidly secured thereto. Tube 46, by virtue of its cross- -sectional contour, resists torsional twisting thereof and thereby prevents shifting of the front portion of the machine compartment side walls 16 and 17 relative to one another. Since machine compartment 18 is bottomless, the rear portion of its side walls 16 and 17 must also be tied together and the means for accomplishing this and to form a support within the compartment for the motor-compressor unit casing 23 of the refrigerating system associated with cabinet 10 is, in accordance with our invention, preferably a combined device which will now be described.

The means in the present disclosure for providing a combined structural tie between the lowermost portion of opposite side walls 16 and 17 ofrmachine compartment 18, particularly at its back side, and for forming a support in machine compartment to supporting'ly anchor casing 23 thereon comprises a rigid one-piece member or a length of metal tube shaped in a unique fashion and generally represented by the reference nu- ,meral 50'. The combined device or tubular member 50 has a part 51 thereof extending continuously and transversely across compartment 18 intermediate its oppo site side Walls 16 and 17. The member 50 is provided with a portion adjacent each end thereof bent or looped in the same direction away from the transverse part 51. Outer side 52 of each looped portion of member 50 rests or is supported on the ear or tab 37 of rear plates 36. These far sides 52 of the loops are flattened in two spaced-apart places therealong to provide vertically disposed double-walled substantially channel-like integral mounting sections 53 (see FIGURES 2 and 5) to which the loops are fastened to the reinforcing foot plates 36 shown in this patent.

and consequently to opposite side walls 16 and 17 of compartment 18 by bolts or the like 54. Bolts 54 pass through holes provided in sections 53, toes 32 and in plates 36. The continuous transverse part 51 of member 50 forms a rigid tie between walls 16 and 17 of compartment 18 and, by virtue of the tubular crosssectional contour of the metal tubular member part 51 thereof, this part resists torsional twisting to thereby prevent shifting of one compartment wall 16 relative to the other wall 17 of metal cabinet shell 11 at the rear of cabinet 10 or compartment 18. Thus, since both the front and rear portions of walls of cabinet 10 are rigidly tied together, the structural strength of the cabinet, particularly in the vicinity ofits lowermost portion or machine compartment, is greatly increased. It will be noted that the looped portions of tube member or the .combined device 50 are spaced from one another with inner sides 56 thereof extending parallel to each other and directed toward the transverse part '51. The ends 57 of inner sides 56 of the loops of member 50 are reduced in diameter, abutted against and welded to transverse part 51 thereof (see FIG- URES 2 and 6) to secure the ends thereto. Member 50 has its looped portions between their outer and inner sides 52 and 56 respectively bent as at 58 (see FIG- URES 3 and 7) to elevate the inner sides 56 of the loops above the outer sides 52 thereof. The parallel spaced-apart inner sides 56 of the looped portions of -member 50 form raised opposed mounting ledges on the combined device or member and each is flattened or deformed to provide a horizontal double-walled, channellike integral attaching section 59 thereon (see FIGURE 4) to receive and have fastened or secured thereto a stud of opposite resilient mounting means generally indicated at 60 for supportingly anchoring casing 23 on the ledges 56 of the'one-piece tubular member at the channel-like sections thereon. These opposed resilient mounting means are of a construction as disclosed and more fully described in the patent to E. L. Horlacher, No. 2,930,556 dated -March 29, 1960, and studs 61 (see FIGURE 4) may correspond to the mounting studs Studs 61 pass through suitable holes provided in attaching sections 59 and are rigidly secured theretoby nuts-62. By employing a one-piece tubular member to provide or for forming combined device 50, it is of such character as to lend itself to supporting inexpensive split circular sheet-metal clamping brackets and the like thereon. For example, one type clamping bracket 63 may be locked to member 50 for conveniently supporting and preventing vibration of refrigerant conveying pipes or conduits utilized to convnect the interior of casing 23 with the interior of the refrigerant evaporator associated with refrigerator cabinet '10. Still anothersuch circular split clampingbracket 64 may be readily locked or welded to tubular member 50 for further supporting refrigerant conveying pipes or for tightly gripping electric cables or wires leading from the exterior of cabinet 10 to the electric motor within casing 23 so as to prevent accidental pulling of these cables or wires loose from lead-in terminals on the casing. By virtue of the present open-type combined tie and casing support device, air ambient the refrigerator cabinet 10 can enter the open bottom of machine compartment '18 intermediate the floor and plates 34 and 36 and flow over casing 23 to cool same in its passage out of the open back of the compartment.

From the foregoing, it should be apparent that We have provided an improved and novel combined device or member which, in addition to forming a torsional resisting structural .tie means between the lower wall portions of a refrigerator cabinet outer metal shell, also forms an elevated support within the machine compartment for a motor-compressor containing casing unit portion of a refrigerating system associated with the refrigerator. -Our improved arrangement will absorb or arrest abnormal,

bumping movements of the casing mounted on the combined device without damaging same or the resilient mount of the casing during shifting of the refrigerator cabinet while transporting it in shipment or while delrvering it to its point of installation. By virtue of shapmg or deforming flattened mounting or attaching doublewalled, channel-like sections on the combined one-piece tubular member, these points or formations thereon, instead of weakening same as might be expected, actually or in reality increase the structural strength of the combined device. Thus, double-walled, channel-like attaching or mounting points can be provided at any desired location about the combined tubular device without imparing its rigidity and/or its torsion-a1 resisting characteristics to rinder such feasible for the purpose herein intended there- While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a refrigerator, a plurality of walls defining a cabinet having a food storage chamber therein, the side walls of said cabinet depending below said chamber to provide opposite walls of an open bottom machine compartment beneath the chamber, a refrigerating system associated with said cabinet including a refrigerant evaporator for cooling said food storage chamber and a casing containing a motor-compressor unit of said system, means providing a combined rigid structural tie between the lowermost portion of said opposite walls of said open bottom compartment and a support therein for said casing, said means comprising a length of metal tubing having a part extending transversely across said compartment intermediate its opposite walls and provided with a portion adjacent each end thereof looped in the same direction away from said transverse part, the outer side of each of said looped portions of said tube being fastened to an op posite compartment wall against movement relative thereto to form said rigid tie therebetween, said looped portions being spaced from one another with their inner sides paralleling each other and directed toward said transverse part of said tube providing opposed mounting ledges on said combined means within said open bottom compartment, the end of said inner parallel sides of said looped portions of said tube abutting and being secured to said transverse part thereof, and means for supportingly anchoring said casing upon said opposed mounting ledges.

2. In a refrigerator, a plurality of walls defining a cabinet having a food storage chamber therein, the side walls of said cabinet depending below said chamber to provide opposite walls of an open bottom machine compartment beneath the chamber, a refrigerating system associated With said cabinet including a refrigerant evaporator for cooling said food storage chamber and a casing containing a motor-compressor unit of said system, means providing a combined rigid structural tie between the lowermost portion of said opposite walls of said open bottom compartment and a support therein for said casing, said means comprising a length of metal tubing member having a part extending transversely across said compartment intermediate its opposite walls and provided with a portion adjacent each end thereof looped in the same direction away from said transverse part, the outer side of each of said looped portions of said tube being fastened to an opposite compartment wall against movement relative thereto to form said rigid tie therebetween, said looped portions being spaced from one another with their inner sides paralleling each other and directed toward said transverse part of said tube providing opposed mounting ledges on said combined means within said compartment, the end of said inner parallel sides of said looped portions of said tube abutting and being secured to said transverse part thereof, said looped portions of said tube between their inner and outer sides being bent upwardly to increase structural strength of the tubing and to ele vate said mounting ledges above the open bottom of said compartment, and means for supporting said casing upon said elevated opposed mounting ledges with the casing depending therebetween therebelow.

3. In a refrigerator, a plurality of walls defining a cabinet having a food storage chamber therein, the side walls of said cabinet depending below said chamber to provide opposite walls of a machine compartment beneath the chamber, a refrigerating system associated with said cabinet including a refrigerant evaporator for cooling said food storage chamber and a casing containing a motor-compressor unit of said system, means providing a combined rigid structural tie between the lowermost portion of said opposite compartment walls and a support within the compartment for said casing, said means comprising a length of metal tubing having a part extending transversely across said compartment intermediate its opposite walls and provided with a portion adjacent each end thereof looped in the same direction away from said transverse part, the outer side of each of said looped portions having a part thereof formed to provide a doublewalled channel-like integral section thereon fastened to an opposite compartment wall against movement relative thereto to form said rigid tie therebetween, said looped portions being spaced from one another with their inner sides directed toward said transverse part of said tube providing opposed mounting ledges of said combined means, the end of said inner sides of said looped portions of said tube abutting and being secured to said transverse part thereof, said inner sides of the looped portions of said tube having a part thereof formed to provide a double-walled channel-like integral section on said mounting ledges, and means for supportingly anchoring said casing upon said opposed mounting ledges of said tube at the channel-like section thereon.

4. In a refrigerator, a plurality of walls defining a cabinet having a food storage chamber therein, the side walls of said cabinet depending below said chamber to provide opposite walls of a machine compartment beneath the chamber, a refrigerating system associated with said cabinet including a refrigerant evaporator for cooling said food storage chamber and a casing containing a motor-compressor unit of said system, means providing a combined rigid structural tie between the lowermost portion of said opposite compartment wall-ls and a support within the compartment for said casing, said means comprising a length of metal tubing having a part extending transversely across said compartment intermediate its opposite walls and provided with a portion adjacent each end thereof looped in the same direction away from said transverse part, the outer side of each of said looped portions having a part thereof formed to provide a double walled channel-like integral section thereon fastened to an opposite compartment wall against movement relative thereto to form said rigid tie therebetween, said looped portions being spaced from one another with their inner sides directed toward said transverse part of said tube providing opposed mounting ledges on said combined means centrally within said compartment, the end of said inner sides of said looped portions of said tube abutting and being secured to said transverse part thereof, said inner sides of the looped portions of said tube having a part thereof formed to provide a double-walled channellike integral section on said mounting ledges, said looped portions of said tube between their inner and outer sides being bent upwardly to increase structural strength of the tubing and to elevate said mounting ledges above the fastening points of the tube to said opposite compartment walls, and means for supporting said casing upon said elevated opposed mounting ledges of said tube at the channel-like section thereon.

5. In a refrigerator a plurality of walls defining a cabinet having a food storage chamber therein, said walls including an inverted substantially U-shaped sheet metal shell forming the exterior top and sides of said cabinet, the sides of said shell depending below said chamber to provide opposite walls of a machine compartment beneath the chamber, said opposite compartment walls having integral inturned feet at the bottom thereof, a refrigerating system associated with said cabinet including a refrigerant evaporator for cooling said food storage chamber and a casing containing a motor-compressor unit of the system, means providing a combined rigid structural tie between the lowermost portion of said opposite compartment Walls and a support within the compartment for said casing, said means comprising a length of metal tubing having a part extending transversely across said compartment intermediate its opposite walls and provided with a portion adjacent each end thereof looped in the same direction away from said transverse part, the outer side of each of said looped portions of said tube being fastened to a foot on the opposite compartment walls against movement relative thereto to form said rigid tie therebetween, said looped portions being spaced from one another with their inner sides directed toward said transverse part of said tube providing opposed mounting ledges on said combined means, the end of said inner sides of said looped portions of said tube abutting and being welded to said transverse part thereof, and means for supportingly anchoring said casing upon said opposed mounting ledges.

6. In a refrigerator, a plurality of walls defining a cabinet having a food storage chamber therein, said walls including an inverted substantially U-shaped sheet metal shell forming the exterior top and sides of said cabinet, the sides of said shell depending below said chamber to provide opposite Walls of a machine compartment beneath the chamber, said opposite compartment walls having integral inturned feet at the bottom thereof, a. refrigerating system associated with said cabinet including a refrigerant evaporator for cooling said food storage chamber and a casing containing a motor-compressor unit of the system, means providing a combined rigid structural tie between the lowermost portion of said opposite compartment walls and a support within the compartment for said casing, said means comprising a length of metal tubing having a part extending transversely across said compartment intermediate its opposite walls and provided with a portion adjacent each end thereof looped in the same direction away from said transverse part, the outer side of each of said looped portions of said tube being fastened to a foot on the opposite compartment walls against movement relative thereto to form said rigid tie therebetween, said looped portions being spaced from one another with their inner sides directed toward said transverse part of said tube providing opposed mounting ledges on said combined means Within said compartment, the end of said inner sides of said looped portions of said tube abutting and being welded to said transverse part thereof, said looped portions of said tube between their inner and outer sides being bent upwardly to increase structural strength of the tubing and to elevate said mounting ledges above the bottom of said compartment, and means for supporting said casing upon said elevated opposed mounting ledges of said tube with the casing depending thereb etween and therebelow.

7. In a refrigerator, a plurality of walls defining a cabinet having a food storage chamber therein, said Walls including an inverted substantially U-shaped sheet metal shell forming the exterior top and sides of said cabinet, the sides of said shell depending below said chamber to provide opposite walls of a machine compartment beneath the chamber, said opposite compartment walls having integral inturned feet at the bottom thereof, a refrigerating system associated with said cabinet including a refrigerant evaporator for cooling said food storage chamber and a casing containing a motor-compressor unit of the system, means providing a combined rigid structural tie between the lowermost portion of said opposite compartment walls and a support within the compartment for said casing, said means comprising a length of metal tubing having a part extending transversely across said compartment intermediate its opposite walls and provided with a portion adjacent each end thereof looped in the same direction away from said transverse part, the outer side of each of said looped portions of said tube having a part thereof formed to provide a doublewalled channel-like integral section thereon fastened to a foot on the opposite compartment walls against movement relative thereto to form said rigid tie therebetween, said looped portions being spaced from one another with their inner sides directed toward said transverse part of said tube providing opposed mounting ledges on said combined means, the end of said inner sides of said looped portions of said tube abutting and being welded to said transverse part thereof, said inner sides of the looped portions of said tube having a part thereof formed to provide a double-walled channel-like integral section on said mounting ledges, and means for supportingly anchoring said casing upon said opposed mounting ledges of said tube at the channel-like section thereon.

8. In a refrigerator, a plurality of walls defining a cabinet having a food storage chamber therein, said walls including an inverted substantially U-shaped sheet metal shell forming the exterior top and sides of said cabinet, the sides of said shell depending below said chamber to provide opposite walls of a machine compartment beneath the chamber, said opposite compartment walls having integral inturned feet at the bottom thereof, a refrigerating system associated with said cabinet including a refrigerant evaporator for cooling said food storage chamber and a casing containing a motor-compressor unit of the system, means providing a combined rigid structural tie between the lowermost portion of said opposite compartment walls and a support within the compartment for said casing, said means comprising a length of metal tubing having a part extending transversely across said compartment intermediate its opposite walls and provided with a portion adjacent each end thereof looped in the same direction away from said transverse part, the outer side of each of said looped portions of said tube having a part thereof formed to provide a double-walled channel-like integral section thereon fastened to a foot on the opposite compartment walls against movement relative thereto to form said rigid tie therebetween, said looped portions being spaced from one another with their inner sides directed toward said transverse part of said member providing opposed mounting ledges on said combined means centrally within said compartment, the end of said inner sides of said looped portions of said tube abutting and being welded to said transverse part thereof, said inner sides of the looped portions of said tube having a part thereof formed to provide a double-walled channel-like integral section on said mounting ledges, said looped portions of said tube being bent upwardly between their inner and outer sides to elevate said mounting ledges above the fastening points of the tube to said opposite compartment walls, and means for supporting said casing upon said elevated opposed mounting ledges of said tube at the channel-like section thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,117,919 Summers May 17, 1938 2,685,178 Eck Aug. 3, 1954 2,711,871 Eek June 28, 1955 

